Substituted indoles which are PARP inhibitors

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to novel indole derivatives, to their preparation and to their use, as inhibitors of the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase or PARP (EC 2.4.2.30), for producing drugs.

The present invention relates to novel indole derivatives, to their preparation and to their use, as inhibitors of the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase or PARP (EC 2.4.2.30), for producing drugs.

Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), or, as it is also termed, poly(ADP-ribose)synthase (PARS), is a regulatory enzyme which is found in cell nuclei (K. Ikai et al., J. Histochem. Cytochem. 1983, 31, 1261–1264). It is assumed that PARP plays a role in the repair of DNA breaks (M. S. Satoh et al., Nature 1992, 356, 356–358). Damage to, or breaks in, DNA strands activate the enzyme PARP which, when it is activated, catalyzes the transfer of ADP-ribose from NAD (S. Shaw, Adv. Radiat. Biol., 1984, 11, 1–69). In connection with this, nicotinamide is released from the NAD. The nicotinamide is converted once again, by other enzymes, into NAD with consumption of the energy carrier ATP. Accordingly, hyperactivation of PARP would result in an unphysiologically high consumption of ATP, with this leading, in the extreme case, to cell damage and cell death.

It is known that free radicals such as superoxide anion, NO and hydrogen peroxide, can give rise to DNA damage in cells and thereby activate PARP. Large quantities of free radicals are observed to be formed in a number of pathophysiological states, and it is assumed that this accumulation of free radicals leads or contributes to the observed cell or organ damage. While these pathophysiological states include, for example, ischemic states of organs as seen in association with stroke, cardiac infarction (C. Thiemermann et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1997, 94, 679–683) or ischemia of the kidneys, they also include reperfusion damage as occurs, for example, after lysis of a cardiac infarction (see above: C. Thiemermann et al.). Consequently, inhibition of the enzyme PARP could be a means of at least partially preventing or alleviating this damage. Consequently, PARP inhibitors could represent a novel therapeutic principle for treating a number of diseases.

The enzyme PARP exerts an influence on the repair of DNA damage and could consequently also play a role in the therapy of cancer diseases since a higher potential effect on tumor tissue was observed in combination with cytostatically active substances (G. Chen et al. Cancer Chemo. Pharmacol. 1988, 22, 303).

Furthermore, it has been found that PARP inhibitors are able to exhibit an immunosuppressive effect (D. Weltin et al. Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 1995, 17, 265–271).

It has also been discovered that PARP is involved in immunological diseases or disorders in which the immune system plays an important role, such as rheumatoid arthritis and septic shock, and that PARP inhibitors are able to exhibit a favorable effect on the course of the disease (H. Kröger et al. Inflammation 1996, 20, 203–215; W. Ehrlich et al. Rheumatol. Int. 1995, 15, 171–172; C. Szabo et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1998, 95, 3867–3872; S. Cuzzocrea et al. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 1998, 342, 67–76).

Furthermore, the PARP inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide exhibited protective effects in a model of circulatory shock (S. Cuzzocrea et al., Br. J. Pharmacol. 1997, 121, 1065–1074).

There are also experimental indications that inhibitors of the enzyme PARP could be useful agents for treating diabetes mellitus (V. Burkart et al. Nature Med. 1999, 5, 314–319).

2-Phenylindoles have been described frequently in the organic synthesis literature. On the other hand, only a few examples are known which carry carboxylic acid derivatives in the 4 or 7 position. Thus, 2-phenylindoles containing a carboxylic acid or carboxylic ester function in the 4, 5 and 6 positions were described in Kasahara et al. J. Chem. Tech. Biotechnol. 1986, 36, 562–564 and Kasahara et al. J. Heterocyclic Chem. 1987, 24, 1555–1556. 2-Phenylindoles containing a 4- or 7-carboxamide function, which, however, carries additional alkyl or aryl substituents, were prepared in Oikawa et al. J. Org. Chem 1976, 41, 1118–1124. 7-Amido-2-phenylindoles which were additionally substituted on the indole were described in Black et al. Tetrahedron, 1994, 50, 10497–10508.

The compounds according to the invention of the general formulae I–II, which are dealt with in this present publication, have not been described previously and are consequently novel.

The present invention provides a compound of the formula I or II

where

-   X can be S, O and NH, and -   R¹ is hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or     unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, CF₃, CN, NR¹¹R¹² or NH—CO—R¹³, with R¹¹     and R¹², independently of each other, being hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl,     and R¹³ being hydrogen, C₁–C₄-alkyl, C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl or phenyl,     and -   R² is hydrogen, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl,     C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl or phenyl, and -   R³ is hydrogen, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl,     C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl, phenyl, COOH, COO—C₁–C₄-alkyl or CONH₂, with it     being possible for each carbon atom in the alkyl chains to     additionally carry one or two of the following substituents:     -   OH, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, NR¹¹R¹², COOH or COO—C₁–C₄-alkyl, and -   A can be an unsaturated, saturated or partially unsaturated     monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring having at most 15 carbon     atoms,     -   or an unsaturated, saturated or partially unsaturated         monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring having at most 14 carbon         atoms and from 0 to 5 nitrogen atoms, from 0 to 2 oxygen atoms         and/or from 0 to 2 sulfur atoms,     -   which can in each case be additionally substituted by a R⁴         radical and at most 3 R⁵ radicals, and     -   one or two carbon atoms and/or sulfur atoms may furthermore         carry one or two ═O groups, and -   R⁴ is hydrogen or -(D)p-(E)s-(F¹)q-G¹-(F²)r-G²-G³, wherein when A is     phenyl and p and s is 0, G² is a bond and R⁵ is not NR¹¹R¹², and -   D is S, NR⁴³ or O, -   E is phenyl,

—SO₂—, —SO₂NH—, —NHCO—, —CONH—, —NHSO₂—, —NHCOCH₂X₄, and

-   X⁴ can be S, O or NH, and -   F¹ can be a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated     C₁–C₈-group, and -   F² independent of F¹ may have the same meaning as F¹, and -   G¹ can be a bond or a saturated, partially unsaturated or     unsaturated monocaclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring with at most 15     carbon atoms, a saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated     monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring with at most 14 carbon atoms     and 0 to 5 nitrogen atoms, 0 to 2 oxygen atoms and/or 0 to 2 sulfur     atoms, which each may be substituted with at most three different or     equal R⁵ radicals and wherein one or two carbon and/or sulfur atoms     may furthermore carry one or two ═O groups, and

-   -   or a bond, and

-   G³ can be hydrogen, a saturated, partially unsaturated or     unsaturated monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic rig with at most 15     carbon atoms, a saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated     monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring with at most 14 carbon atoms     and 0 to 5 nitrogen atoms, 0 to 2 oxygen atoms and/or 0 to 2 sulfur     atoms, which each may be substituted with at most three different or     equal R⁵ radicals and wherein one or two carbon and/or sulfur atoms     may furthermore carry one or two ═O groups, and

-   p can be 0 or 1, and

-   s can be 0 or 1, and

-   q can be 0 or 1, and

-   r can be 0 or 1, and

-   R⁴¹ can be hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, wherein every carbon atom may     carry up to two R⁶ radicals, phenyl, which may additionally carry at     most two R⁶ radicals, or (CH₂)_(t)-K, and

-   R⁴² can be hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, —CO—R⁸, SO₂—R⁸, SO₂NH₂, —(C═N)—R⁸     or —(C═N)—NHR⁸, —CO₂—R⁸, and

-   R⁴³ can be hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl, and

-   t can be 1,2,3 or 4, and

-   K can be NR¹¹R¹², NR¹¹—C₁–C₄-alkyl-phenyl, pyrrolidine, piperidine,     1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine, morpholine, homopiperidine, piperazine,     which may be substituted with one C₁–C₆-alkyl group, or     homopiperazine, which may be substituted with one C₁–C₆-alkyl group,     and

-   R⁵ can be hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or     unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, nitro, CF₃, CN, NR¹¹R¹²,     -   NH—CO—R¹³, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl,     -   COR⁸, C₁–C₄-alkyl-phenyl, phenyl, CO₂—C₁–C₄-alkyl,         S—C₁–C₄-alkyl, wherein every carbon atom of the alkyl chains may         additionally carry up to two R⁶ radicals and wherein the alkyl         chains may furthermore be unsaturated, and

-   R⁶ can be hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or     unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, nitro, CF₃, CN, NR¹¹R¹²,     -   NH—CO—R¹³ or O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, and

-   R⁷ can be hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, phenyl, where the ring can be     additionally substituted by up to two R⁷¹ radicals, or an amine     NR¹¹R¹² or a cyclic, saturated amine having 3 to 7 members, such as     pyrrolidine, piperidine, etc., which may be substituted with one     C₁–C₆ alkyl group, and homopiperazine, which may be substituted with     one C₁–C₆-alkyl group, wherein groups R¹¹, R¹² and R¹³ in K, R⁵, R⁶     and R⁷ may have independently the same meaning as R¹

-   R⁷¹ can be OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine,     iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂, and

-   R⁸ can be C₁–C₆-alkyl, CF₃, phenyl or C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl, where the     ring can be additionally substituted by up to two R⁸¹ radicals, and

-   R⁸¹ can be OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine,     iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂, and

-   R⁹ can be hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl,     -   CO₂—C₁–C₄-alkyl, COR⁸, CO₂—C₁–C₄-alkyl-phenyl, SO₂-phenyl,     -   C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl or phenyl,     -   where the phenyl rings can be additionally substituted by up to         two R⁹¹ radicals, and     -   R⁹¹ can be OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine,         iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂,     -   with the compounds         4-carboxamido-2-(1-ethylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole and         4-carboxamido-2-(1-ethyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)-1H-indole         being excluded,     -   and also their tautomeric forms, possible enantiomeric and         diastereomeric forms, and their prodrugs.

Preferred is a compound of the formula I or II

wherein

-   X is O, and -   R¹ is hydrogen, and     -   all the other variables have the abovementioned meanings.

Preferred is a compound of the formula I or II

wherein

-   X is O, and -   R¹ is hydrogen, and -   A is phenyl, cyclohexyl, piperidine, pyridine, pyrimidine or     pyrazine, which compounds can be additionally substituted by one R⁴     or at most 2 R⁵, and     -   all the other variables have the meanings as given in claim 1.

In particular preferred is a compound of the formula I or II

wherein

-   X is O, and -   R¹ is hydrogen, and -   A is phenyl, cyclohexyl, piperidine, pyridine, pyrimidine or     pyrazine, which compounds can be additionally substituted by one R⁴     or at most 2 R⁵, and -   R⁴ is -Dp-F_(0.1)-G²-G³ with G³ equal hydrogen, wherein, when A is     phenyl and p is 1, D is not NR⁴³ and R⁵ is not NR¹¹R¹², and when A     is phenyl and p is 0, G² is a bond and R⁵ is not NR¹¹R¹², -   D is O or NR⁴³, where R⁴³ is hydrogen or C₁–C₃-alkyl, and -   F is C₂–C₄-alkyl, and -   G² has the same meaning as given above, and -   R⁵ has the same meaning as given above.

The use of compounds of the general formulae I and II for producing drugs for treating neurodegenerative diseases and neuronal damage is also claimed, with R¹, R², R³ and X having the same meanings as given above and A is hydrogen.

The compounds of the formulae I, II can be employed as racemates, as enantiomerically pure compounds or as diastereomers. If enantiomerically pure compounds are desired, they can be obtained, for example, by carrying out a classical racemate resolution using a suitable optically active base or acid and the compounds of the formula I or their intermediates.

The present invention also relates to mesomeric or tautomeric compounds of the formulae I, II.

The present invention furthermore relates to physiologically tolerated salts of the compounds I, II which can be obtained by reacting compounds I, II with a suitable acid or base. Examples of suitable acids and bases are listed in Fortschritte der Arzneimittelforschung (Advances in Drug Research), 1966, Birkhäuser Verlag, Vol. 10, pp. 224–285. They include, for example, hydrochloric acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc., and sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and Tris.

Prodrugs are understood as being compounds which are metabolized in vivo into compounds of the general formulae I, II. Typical prodrugs are phosphates, carbamates of aminoacids, esters and other compounds.

The indole derivatives I, II according to the invention can be prepared in a variety of ways. Possible methods of synthesis follow those described in the above-listed literature references. Scheme 1 is intended to illustrate the synthesis strategy which is pursued in this connection.

Ester 1 is reacted with a styrene derivative in a palladium-catalyzed reaction. Where Y=NR₂, the ring closure to form indole 3 takes place under aqueous/acid conditions. Where Y=H, the ring closure takes place after N-tosylation by palladium catalysis. The indole 3 is obtained by basic elimination of the N-tosyl group. The ester is reacted, at elevated temperatures, preferably from 80 to 130° C., with hydrazine in polar solvents such as the alcohols butanol and ethanol or else dimethylformamide. The hydrazide which accumulates in this connection is then reduced to the amide 4 under reductive conditions, such as using Raney nickel in alcohols under reflux.

The substituted indole derivatives I, II which are contained in the present invention are inhibitors of the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase or PARP (EC 2.4.2.30).

The inhibitory effect of the substituted indole derivatives I, II was ascertained using an enzyme test which was already known in the literature, with a K_(i) value being determined as the measure of activity. In this way, the indole derivatives I, II were quantitatively tested for their inhibitory effect on the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase or PARP (EC 2.4.2.30).

The substituted indole derivatives of the general formulae I, II are inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) or, as it is also termed, poly(ADP-ribose)synthase (PARS) and can consequently be used for the treatment and prophylaxis of diseases which are linked to an increased activity of these enzymes.

The compounds of the formulae I, II can be employed for producing drugs for treating damage which occurs following ischemias and for prophylaxis where ischemias of various organs are expected.

Accordingly, the present indole derivatives of the general formulae I, II can be used for the treatment and prophylaxis of neurodegenerative diseases which occur following ischemia, trauma (craniocerebral trauma), hemorrhages, subarachnoidal bleeding and stroke, and of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple infarct dementia, Alzheiner's disease and Huntington's disease, and of epilepsies, in particular of generalized epileptic attacks such as petit mal and tonic/clonic attacks and partial epileptic attacks, such as temporal lobe, and complex partial attacks, and, furthermore, for the treatment and prophylaxis of damage to the heart following cardiac ischemias and damage to the kidneys following renal ischemias, for example of acute kidney insufficiency, of acute kidney failure and of damage which occurs during and after a kidney transplant. Furthermore, the compounds of the general formulae I, II can be used for treating acute myocardial infarction and damage which occurs during and after its lysis by medical treatment (for example using TPA, Reteplase or Streptokinase or mechanically using a laser or rotablator), and of microinfarctions during and after heart valve replacement, aneurysm resections and heart transplants The present indole derivatives I, II can likewise be used for treating revascularization of critically stenosed coronary arteries, for example in PCTA and bypass operations, and critically stenosed peripheral arteries, for example arteries of the leg. Furthermore, the indole derivatives I, II can be of use in the chemotherapy of tumors and their metastasization and be used for treating inflammations and rheumatic diseases, for example rheumatoid arthritis, and also for treating diabetes mellitus.

The drug preparations according to the invention contain a therapeutically effective quantity of the compounds I, II in addition to the customary pharmaceutical adjuvants.

For local external use, for example in powders, ointments or sprays, the active compounds can be present at the customary concentrations. As a rule, the active compounds are present in a quantity of from 0.001 to 1% by weight, preferably of from 0.001 to 0.1% by weight.

For internal use, the preparations are administered in individual doses. In an individual dose, from 0.1 to 100 mg is/are administered per kg of body weight. The preparations may be administered daily in one or more doses, depending on the nature and severity of the diseases.

In addition to the active compound, the drug preparations according to the invention comprise the customary excipients and diluents which correspond to the desired mode of administration. For local external use, it is possible to employ adjuvants which are customary in pharmaceutical technology, such as ethanol, isopropanol, ethoxylated castor oil, ethoxylated hydrated castor oil, polyacrylic acid, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycostearate, ethoxylated fatty alcohols, paraffin oil, vaseline and lanolin. Lactose, propylene glycol, ethanol, starch, talc and polyvinylpyrrolidone are, for example, suitable for internal use.

Furthermore the preparations can comprise antioxidants such as tocopherol and butylated hydroxyanisole and also butylated hydroxytoluene, taste-improving additives, stabilizers, emulsifiers and glidants.

The substances which the preparation contains in addition to the active compound, and also the substances employed in producing the pharmaceutical preparations, are toxicologically harmless and compatible with the relevant active compound. The drug preparations are produced in a customary manner, for example by mixing the active compound with other customary excipients and diluents.

The drug preparations may be administered in a variety of modes of administration, for example perorally, parenterally, such as intravenously by infusion, subcutaneously, intraperitoneally and topically. Thus, possible preparation forms are tablets, emulsions, infusion solutions, injection solutions, pastes, ointments, gels, creams, lotions, powders and sprays.

EXAMPLE A Inhibition of the Enzyme Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase or PARP (EC 2.4.2.30)

A 96-well microtiter plate (Falcon) is coated with histones (type II-AS; SIGMA H7755). For this, histones are dissolved up to a concentration of 50 μg/ml in carbonate buffer (0.05 M NaHCO₃; pH 9.4). The individual wells of the microtiter plate are incubated overnight with in each case 100 μl of this histone solution. The histone solution is then removed and the individual wells are incubated, at room temperature, with 200 μl of a 1% BSA (bovine serum albumin) solution in carbonate buffer for 2 hours. The plate is then washed three times with washing buffer (0.05% Tween10 in PBS). For the enzyme reaction, 50 μl of the enzyme reaction solution (5 μl of reaction buffer (1M Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 100 mM MgCl₂, 10 mM DTT), 0.5 μl of PARP (c=0.22 μg/μl), 4 μl of activated DNA (SIGMA D-4522, 1 mg/ml in water), 40.5 μl of H₂O) are preincubated, in each well, for 10 minutes with 10 μl of an inhibitor solution. The enzyme reaction is started by adding 40 μl of a substrate solution (4 μl of reaction buffer (see above), 8 μl of NAD solution (100 μM in H₂O), 28 μl of H₂O). The reaction time is 20 minutes at room temperature. The reaction is stopped by washing three times with washing buffer (see above). There then follows a one-hour incubation at room temperature, during which time the plate is incubated with a specific anti-poly-ADP-ribose antibody. The antibody employed was a monoclonal “10OH” anti-poly(ADP-ribose) antibody (Kawamaitsu H et al. (1984) Monoclonal antibodies to poly (adenosine diphosphate ribose) recognize different structures. Biochemistry 23, 3771–3777) Polyclonal antibodies can be used in exactly the same way.

The antibodies were used in a 1:5000 dilution in antibody buffer (1% BSA in PBS; 0.05% Tween20). After the plate has been washed three times with washing buffer, there then follows a one-hour incubation at room temperature with the secondary antibody. In this case, use was made, for the monoclonal antibody, of an antimouse IgG coupled to peroxidase (Boehringer Mannheim) and, for the rabbit antibody, of an anti-rabbit IgG coupled to peroxidase (SIGMA A-6154), with each of these secondary antibodies being used in a 1:10000 dilution in antibody buffer. After the plate has been washed three times with washing buffer, the color reaction is effected using 100 μl of color reagent (SIGMA, TMB Readymix, T8540)/well at room temperature for approx. 15 min. The color reaction is stopped by adding 100 μl of 2M H₂SO₄. A measurement is then taken immediately (450 nm against 620 nm; “Easy Reader” ELISA plate reading appliance EAR340AT, SLT Labinstruments, Austria). The IC₅₀ value of an inhibitor under measurement is the concentration of the inhibitor at which the change in color concentration is half the maximum.

The following compounds according to the invention can be prepared using the above-described methods:

-   2-(4(4-n-Propyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-Piperazin-1-yl-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Isopropyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Benzyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-n-Butyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Ethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-N,N-Dimethylamino-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-Pyrrolidinl-yl-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-Piperidin-yl-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-Piperazin-1-yl-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Propyl-piperazin-1-yl)-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Ethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Benzyl-piperazin-1-yl)-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Acetamido-piperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Benzamido-piperazin-1-yl)-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-Homopiperazin-1-yl-phenyl)-1H-indol-1-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Methylhomopiperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Benzylhomopiperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-(4-n-Butyl-homopiperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Ethylhomo-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-Chlor-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-Amino-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-Methyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-Phenyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-Isopropyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-Flour-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-Triflourmethyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3-Methoxy-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3-Chlor-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3-Amino-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3-Methyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3-Phenyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3-Isopropyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3-Flour-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3-Triflourmethyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Piperidin-4-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(1-Methyl-piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(1-n-Propyl-piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(1-Benzyl-piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(1-n-Butyl-piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(1-Isopropyl-piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Pyridin-4-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Pyridin-3-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Pyridin-2-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Thien-2-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Thien-3-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Indol-3-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Indol-5-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Indol-2-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Chinolin-3-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Chinolin-2-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Chinolin-4-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Isochinolin-1-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Isochinolin-3-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Chinoxalin-2-yl-1H-indol-1-carboxamid -   2-Naphth-2-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Naphth-1-yl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(2(N,N-Dimethylamino)-eth-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(2(N,N-Diethylamino)-eth-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(2-Piperidin-1-yl-eth-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-eth-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3(N,N-Dimethylamino)-prop-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3(N,N-Diethylamino)-prop-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3-Piperidin-1-yl-prop-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-prop-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-Cyclohexyl-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(cis-4-Amino-cyclohex-1-yl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4-Methoxy-cyclohex-1-yl)-1H-indol-4-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-n-Propyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-Piperazin-1-yl-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Isopropyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Benzyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-n-Butyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Ethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-N,N-Dimethylamino-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-Piperidin-1-yl-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-Piperazin-1-yl-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Propyl-piperazin-1-yl)-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Ethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Benzyl-piperazin-1-yl)-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Acetamido-piperazin-1-yl)-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-(2-(4-Benzamido-piperazin-1-yl)-eth-1-yloxy)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-Homopiperazin-1-yl-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Methylhomopiperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Benzylhomopiperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-(4-n-Butyl-homopiperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4(4-Ethylhomo-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-Chlor-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-Amino-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-Methyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-Phenyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-Isopropyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-Flour-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-Triflourmethyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3-Methoxy-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3-Chlor-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3-Amino-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3-Methyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3-Phenyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3-Isopropyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3-Flour-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3-Triflourmethyl-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Piperidin-4-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(1-Methyl-piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(1-n-Propyl-piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(1-Benzyl-piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(1-n-Butyl-piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(1-Isopropyl-piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Pyridin-4-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Pyridin-3-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Pyridin-2-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Thien-2-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Thien-3-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Indol-3-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Indol-5-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Indol-2-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Chinolin-3-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Chinolin-2-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Chinolin-4-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Isochinolin-1-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Isochinolin-3-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Chinoxalin-2-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Naphth-2-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Naphth-1-yl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(2(N,N-Dimethylamino)-eth-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(2(N,N-Diethylamino)-eth-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(2-Piperidin-1-yl-eth-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-eth-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3(N,N-Dimethylamino)-prop-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3(N,N-Diethylamino)-prop-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3-Piperidin-1-yl-prop-1-ylamino)-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-prop-1-yl-amino-phenyl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-Cyclohexyl-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(cis-4-Amino-cyclohex-1-yl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid -   2-(4-Methoxy-cyclohex-1-yl)-1H-indol-7-carboxamid

The present invention also relates to substituted indole derivatives of the general formulae Ia and IIa

where

-   X can be S, O and N, and -   R¹ is hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or     unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, CF₃, CN, NR¹¹R¹² or NH—CO—R¹³, with R¹¹     and R¹², independently of each other, being hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl,     and R¹³ being hydrogen, C₁–C₄-alkyl, C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl or phenyl,     and -   R² is hydrogen, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl,     C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl or phenyl, and -   R³ is hydrogen, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl,     C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl, phenyl, COOH, COO—C₁–C₄-alkyl or CONH₂, with it     being possible for each carbon atom in the alkyl chains to     additionally carry one or two of the following substituents:     -   OH, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, NR¹¹R¹², COOH or COO—C₁–C₄-alkyl, and -   A can be an unsaturated or saturated monocyclic, bicyclic or     tricyclic ring having at most 15 carbon atoms, such as phenyl,     naphthalene, tetrahydronaphthalene, indan, fluorene, carbazole,     cyclohexane, or an unsaturated, saturated or partially unsaturated     monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring having at most 14 carbon     atoms and from 0 to 5 nitrogen atoms, from 0 to 2 oxygen atoms     and/or from 0 to 2 sulfur atoms, such as pyridine, thiophene,     quinoline, quinoxaline, furan, imidazole, pyrrole, indole,     benzimidazole, pyrimidine, pyrazine, benzofuran, benzothiophene,     thiophene, quinazoline or isoxazole, which can in each case be     additionally substituted by a R⁴ radical and at most 3 R⁵ radicals,     and -   R⁴ is hydrogen or -(D)_(p)-(E)_(s)-(F)_(q)-G, where -   D is S, NR⁴³ or O -   E is phenyl, and s is 0 or 1, and -   G is NR⁴¹R⁴² or

-   -   and

-   p can be 0 or 1, and

-   F can be a carbon chain of from 1 to 8 C atoms, and

-   q can be 0 or 1, and

-   R⁴¹ can be hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, phenyl, which can additionally     carry at most two R⁶ radicals, or (CH₂)_(r)—H, and

-   R⁴² can be hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, —CO—R⁸, SO₂—R⁸, —(C═N)—R⁸ or     —(C═N)—NHR⁸, and

-   R⁴³ can be hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl, and

-   r can be 1,2,3,4, and

-   H can be NR¹¹R¹², NR¹¹—C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl, pyrrolidine, piperidine,     1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine, morpholine, homopiperidine, piperazine,     which can be additionally substituted by a C₁–C₆-alkyl radical, or     homopiperazine, which can additionally be substituted by a     C₁–C₆-alkyl radical, and

-   R⁵ can be hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or     unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, nitro, CF₃, CN, NR¹¹R¹², NH—CO—R¹³ or     O—C₁–C₄-alkyl,

-   R⁶ can be hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or     unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, nitro, CF₃, CN, NR₁₁R¹², NH—CO—R¹³ or     O—C₁–C₄-alkyl,

-   R⁷ can be hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, phenyl, where the ring can be     additionally substituted by up to two R⁷¹ radicals, or an amine     NR¹¹R¹² or a cyclic, saturated amine having 3 to 7 members, such as     pyrrolidine, piperidine, etc., and

-   R⁷¹ can be OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine,     iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂, and

-   R⁸ can be C₁–C₆-alkyl, phenyl or C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl, where the ring     can be additionally substituted by up to two R⁸¹ radicals, and

-   R⁸¹ can be OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine,     iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂, and

-   R⁹ can be hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl or phenyl, where     the phenyl rings can be additionally substituted by up to two R⁹¹     radicals, and

-   R⁹¹ can be OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine,     iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂,     with the compounds 4-carboxamido-2-(1-ethylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole     and     4-carboxamido-2-(1-ethyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)-1H-indole     being excluded,     and also their tautomeriic forms, possible enantiomeric and     diastereomeric forms, and their prodrugs.

Preference is given to compounds of the formulae Ia and IIa where

-   X is O, and -   R¹ is hydrogen, and     all the other variables have the abovementioned meanings.

Preference is given to compounds of the formulae Ia and IIa where

-   X is O, and -   R¹ is hydrogen, and -   A is phenyl, cyclohexyl, piperidine, pyridine, pyridine or pyrazine,     which compounds can be additionally substituted by one R⁴ or at most     2 R⁵, and     -   all the other variables have the abovementioned meanings.

Particular preference is given to compounds of the formulae Ia and IIa where

-   X is O, and -   R¹ is hydrogen, and -   A is phenyl, cyclohexyl, piperidine, pyridine, pyrimidine or     pyrazine, which compounds can additionally be substituted by one R⁴     or at most 2 R⁵, and -   R⁴ is -D_(0.1)-F_(0.1)-G, and -   D is O or NR⁴³, where R⁴³ is hydrogen or C₁–C₃-alkyl, and -   F is C₂–C₄-alkyl, and -   G has the meanings given above, and -   R⁵ has the meanings given above.

The use of compounds of the general formulae Ia and IIa for producing drugs for treating neurodegenerative diseases and neuronal damage is also claimed, with R¹, R², R³ and X having the same meanings as above and with it being possible for A to be hydrogen or a C₁–C₆ alkyl chain.

The compounds of the formulae Ia, IIa can be employed as racemates, as enantiomerically pure compounds or as diastereomers. If enantiomerically pure compounds are desired, they can be obtained, for example, by carrying out a classical racemate resolution using a suitable optically active base or acid and the compounds of the formula I or their intermediates.

The present invention also relates to mesomeric or tautomeric compounds of the formulae Ia, IIa.

The present invention furthermore relates to physiologically tolerated salts of the compounds Ia, IIa which can be obtained by reacting compounds Ia, IIa with a suitable acid or base. Examples of suitable acids and bases are listed in Fortschritte der Arzneimittelforschung (Advances in Drug Research), 1966, Birkhäuser Verlag, Vol. 10, pp. 224–285. They include, for example, hydrochloric acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc., and sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and Tris.

Prodrugs are understood as being compounds which are metabolized in vivo into compounds of the general formulae Ia, IIa. Typical prodrugs are phosphates, carbamates of aminoacids, esters and other compounds.

The indole derivatives Ia, IIa according to the invention can be prepared in a variety of ways. Possible methods of synthesis follow those described in the above-listed literature references. Scheme 2 is intended to illustrate the synthesis strategy which is pursued in this connection.

Ester 1 is reacted with a styrene derivative in a palladium-catalyzed reaction. Where Y=NR₂, the ring closure to form indole 3 takes place under aqueous/acid conditions Where Y=H, the ring closure takes place after N-tosylation by palladium catalysis. The indole 3 is obtained by basic elimination of the N-tosyl group. The ester is reacted, at elevated temperatures, preferably from 80 to 130° C., with hydrazine in polar solvents such as the alcohols butanol and ethanol or else dimethylformamide. The hydrazide which accumulates in this connection is then reduced to the amide 4 under reductive conditions, such as using Raney nickel in alcohols under reflux.

The substituted indole derivatives which are contained in the present invention are inhibitors of the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase or PARP (EC 2.4.2.30).

The inhibitory effect of the substituted indole derivatives Ia, IIa was ascertained using an enzyme test which was already known in the literature, with a K_(i) value being determined as the measure of activity. In this way, the indole derivatives I–IV were quantitatively tested for their inhibitory effect on the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase or PARP (EC 2.4.2.30).

The substituted indole derivatives of the general formulae I–IV are inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) or, as it is also termed, poly(ADP-ribose)synthase (PARS) and can consequently be used for the treatment and prophylaxis of diseases which are linked to an increased activity of these enzymes.

The compounds of the formulae Ia, IIa can be employed for producing drugs for treating damage which occurs following ischemias and for prophylaxis where ischemias of various organs are expected.

Accordingly, the present indole derivatives of the general formulae Ia, IIa can be used for the treatment and prophylaxis of neurodegenerative diseases which occur following ischemia, trauma (craniocerebral trauma), hemorrhages, subarachnoidal bleeding and stroke, and of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple infarct dementia, Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease, and of epilepsies, in particular of generalized epileptic attacks such as petit mal and tonic/clonic attacks and partial epileptic attacks, such as temporal lobe, and complex partial attacks, and, furthermore, for the treatment and prophylaxis of damage to the heart following cardiac ischemias and damage to the kidneys following renal ischemias, for example of acute kidney insufficiency, of acute kidney failure and of damage which occurs during and after a kidney transplant. Furthermore, the compounds of the general formulae Ia, IIa can be used for treating acute myocardial infarction and damage which occurs during and after its lysis by medical treatment (for example using TPA, Reteplase or Streptokinase or mechanically using a laser or rotablator), and of microinfarctions during and after heart valve replacement, aneurysm resections and heart transplants. The present indole derivatives Ia, IIa can likewise be used for treating revascularization of critically stenosed coronary arteries, for example in PCTA and bypass operations, and critically stenosed peripheral arteries, for example arteries of the leg. Furthermore, the indole derivatives Ia, IIa can be of use in the chemotherapy of tumors and their metastasization and be used for treating inflammations and rheumatic diseases, for example rheumatoid arthritis, and also for treating diabetes mellitus.

The drug preparations according to the invention contain a therapeutically effective quantity of the compounds Ia, IIa in addition to the customary pharmaceutical adjuvants.

For local external use, for example in powders, ointments or sprays, the active compounds can be present at the customary concentrations. As a rule, the active compounds are present in a quantity of from 0.001 to 1% by weight, preferably of from 0.001 to 0.1% by weight.

For internal use, the preparations are administered in individual doses. In an individual dose, from 0.1 to 100 mg is/are administered per kg of body weight. The preparations may be administered daily in one or more doses, depending on the nature and severity of the diseases.

In addition to the active compound, the drug preparations according to the invention comprise the customary excipients and diluents which correspond to the desired mode of administration. For local external use, it is possible to employ adjuvants which are customary in pharmaceutical technology, such as ethanol, isopropanol, ethoxylated castor oil, ethoxylated hydrated castor oil, polyacrylic acid, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycostearate, ethoxylated fatty alcohols, paraffin oil, vaseline and lanolin. Lactose, propylene glycol, ethanol, starch, talc and polyvinylpyrrolidone are, for example, suitable for internal use.

Furthermore the preparations can comprise antioxidants such as tocopherol and butylated hydroxyanisole and also butylated hydroxytoluene, taste-improving additives, stabilizers, emulsifiers and glidants.

The substances which the preparation contains in addition to the active compound, and also the substances employed in producing the pharmaceutical preparations, are toxicologically harmless and compatible with the relevant active compound. The drug preparations are produced in a customary manner, for example by mixing the active compound with other customary excipients and diluents.

The drug preparations may be administered in a variety of modes of administration, for example perorally, parenterally, such as intravenously by infusion, subcutaneously, intraperitoneally and topically. Thus, possible preparation forms are tablets, emulsions, infusion solutions, injection solutions, pastes, ointments, gels, creams, lotions, powders and sprays.

EXAMPLE A Inhibition of the Enzyme Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase or PARP (EC 2.4.2.30)

A 96-well microtiter plate (Falcon) is coated with histones (type II-AS; SIGMA H7755). For this, histones are dissolved up to a concentration of 50 μg/ml in carbonate buffer (0.05 M NaHCO₃; pH 9.4). The individual wells of the microtiter plate are incubated overnight with in each case 100 μl of this histone solution. The histone solution is then removed and the individual wells are incubated, at room temperature, with 200 μl of a 1% BSA (bovine serum albumin) solution in carbonate buffer for 2 hours. The plate is then washed three times with washing buffer (0.05% Tween10 in PBS). For the enzyme reaction, 50 μl of the enzyme reaction solution (5 μl of reaction buffer (1M Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 100 mM MgCl₂, 10 mM DTT), 0.5 μl of PARP (c=0.22 μg/μl), 4 μl of activated DNA (SIGMA D-4522, 1 mg/ml in water), 40.5 μl of H₂O) are preincubated, in each well, for 10 minutes with 10 μl of an inhibitor solution. The enzyme reaction is started by adding 40 μl of a substrate solution (4 μl of reaction buffer (see above), 8 μl of NAD solution (100 μM in H₂O), 28 μl of H₂O). The reaction time is 20 minutes at room temperature The reaction is stopped by washing three times with washing buffer (see above). There then follows a one-hour incubation at room temperature, during which time the plate is incubated with a specific anti-poly-ADP-ribose antibody. The antibody employed was a monoclonal “10H”, anti-poly(ADP-ribose) antibody (Kawamaitsu H et al. (1984) Monoclonal antibodies to poly (adenosine diphosphate ribose) recognize different structures. Biochemistry 23, 3771–3777). Polyclonal antibodies can be used in exactly the same way.

The antibodies were used in a 1:5000 dilution in antibody buffer (1% BSA in PBS; 0.05% Tween20). After the plate has been washed three times with washing buffer, there then follows a one-hour incubation at room temperature with the secondary antibody. In this case, use was made, for the monoclonal antibody, of an anti-mouse IgG coupled to peroxidase (Boehringer Mannheim) and, for the rabbit antibody, of an anti-rabbit IgG coupled to peroxidase (SIGMA A-6154), with each of these secondary antibodies being used in a 1:10000 dilution in antibody buffer. After the plate has been washed three times with washing buffer, the color reaction is effected using 100 μl of color reagent (SIGMA, TMB Readymix, T8540)/well at room temperature for approx. 15 min. The color reaction is stopped by adding 100 μl of 2M H₂SO₄. A measurement is then taken immediately (450 nm against 620 nm; “Easy Reader” ELISA plate reading appliance EAR340AT, SLT Labinstruments, Austria). The IC₅₀ value of an inhibitor under measurement is the concentration of the inhibitor at which the change in color concentration is half the maximum.

The following compounds according to the invention can be prepared using the above-described methods:

-   2-(4(4-n-Propylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-Piperazin-1-ylphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4(4-Isopropylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4(4-Benzylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4(4-n-Butylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4(4-Ethylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-(2-N,N-Dimethylaminoeth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yleth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-(2-Piperidin-1-yleth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-(2-Piperazin-1-yleth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-(2-(4-Methylpiperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-(2-(4-Propylpiperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-(2-(4-Ethylpiperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-(2-(4-Benzylpiperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-(2-(4-Acetamidopiperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-(2-(4-Benzanidopiperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-Homopiperazin-1-ylphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4(4-Methylhomopiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4(4-Benzylhomopiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-(4-n-Butylhomopiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4(4-Ethylhomopiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-Aminophenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-Methylphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-Phenylphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-Isopropylphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3-Methoxyphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3-Chlorophenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3-Aminophenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3-Methylphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3-Phenylphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3-Isopropylphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3-Fluorophenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Piperidin-4-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(1-Methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(1-n-Propylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(1-Benzylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(1-n-Butylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(1-Isopropylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Pyridin-4-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Pyridin-3-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Pyridin-2-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Thien-2-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Thien-3-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Indol-3-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Indol-5-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Indol-2-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Quinolin-3-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Quinolin-2-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Quinolin-4-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Isoquinolin-1-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Isoquinolin-3-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Quinoxalin-2-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Naphth-2-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Naphth-1-yl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(2(N,N-Dimethylamino)eth-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(2(N,N-Diethylamino)eth-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(2-Piperidin-1-yleth-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yleth-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3(N,N-Dimethylamino)prop-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3(N,N-Diethylamino)prop-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3-Piperidin-1-ylprop-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-ylprop-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-Cyclohexyl-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(cis-4-Aminocyclohex-1-yl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4-Methoxycyclohex-1-yl)-1H-indole-4-carboxamide -   2-(4(4-n-Propylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-Piperazin-1-ylphenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4(4-Isopropylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4(4-Benzylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4(4-n-Butylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4(4-Ethylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-(2-N,N-Dimethylaminoeth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yleth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-(2-Piperidin-1-yleth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-(2-Piperazin-1-yleth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-(2-(4-Methylpiperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-(2-(4-Propylpiperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-(2-(4-Ethylpiperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-(2-(4-Benzylpiperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-(2-(4-Acetamidopiperazin-1-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-(2-(4-Benzamidopiperazin-2-yl)eth-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-Homopiperazin-1-ylphenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4(4-Methylhomopiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4(4-Benzylhomopiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-(4-n-Butylhomopiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4(4-Ethylhomopiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Piperidin-4-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(1-Methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(1-n-Propylpiperidin-4-yl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(1-Benzylpiperidin-4-yl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(1-n-Butylpiperidin-4-yl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(1-Isopropylpiperidin-4-yl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Pyridin-4-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Pyridin-3-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Pyridin-2-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Thien-2-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Thien-3-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Indol-3-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Indol-5-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Indol-2-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Quinolin-3-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Quinolin-2-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Quinolin-4-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Isoquinolin-1-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Isoquinolin-3-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Quinoxalin-2-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Naphth-2-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Naphth-1-yl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(2(N,N-Dimethylamino)eth-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(2(N,N-Diethylamino)eth-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(2-Piperidin-1-yleth-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yleth-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(3(N,N-Dimethylamino)prop-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(3(N,N-Diethylamino)prop-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(3-Piperidin-1-ylprop-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-ylprop-1-ylamino)phenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-Cyclohexyl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(cis-4-Aminocyclohex-1-yl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one -   2-(4-Methoxycyclohex-1-yl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-c,d]indol-6-one 

1. A compound of the formula I or II

Where X is S, O or NH, and R′ is hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, CF₃, CN, NR¹¹R¹² or NH—CO—R¹³, with R¹¹ and R¹², independently of each other, being hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl, and R¹³ being hydrogen, C₁–C₄-alkyl, C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl or phenyl and R² is hydrogen, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl or phenyl, and R³ is hydrogen, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl, phenyl, COOH, COO—C₁–C₄-alkyl or CONH₂, with it being possible for each carbon atom in the alkyl chains to additionally carry one or two of the following substituents: OH, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, NR¹¹R¹², COOH or COO—C₁–C₄-alkyl, and A is an unsaturated, saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring having at most 15 carbon atoms, such as phenyl, naphthalene, tetrahydronaphthalene, indan, fluorene, carbazole, cyclohexane, or an unsaturated, saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring having at most 14 carbon atoms and from 0 to 5 nitrogen atoms, from 0 to 2 oxygen atoms and/or from 0 to 2 sulfur atoms, such as pyridine, thiophene, quinoline, quinoxaline, furan, imidazole, pyrrole, indole, benzimidazole, pyrimidine, pyrazine, benzofuran, benzothiophene, thiophene, quinazoline or isoxazole, which can in each case be additionally substituted by a R⁴ radical and at most 3 R⁵ radicals, and one or two carbon atoms and/or sulfur atoms may furthermore carry one or two ═O groups, and R⁴ is hydrogen or -(D)p-(E)s-(F¹)q-G¹-(F²)r-G²G³, wherein when A is phenyl and p and s is O, G² is a bond and R⁵ is not NR¹¹R¹², and D is S, NR⁴³ or O, E is phenyl,

—SO₂—, SO₂NH—, —NHCO—, CONH, —NHSO₂—, —NHCOCH₂X₄, and X⁴ is S, O or NH, and F¹ is a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated C₁–C₈-group and F² independent of F¹ may have the same meaning as F¹, and G¹ is a bond or a saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring with at most 15 carbon atoms, a saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring with at most 14 carbon atoms and 0 to 5 nitrogen atoms, 0 to 2 oxygen atoms and/or 0 to 2 sulfur atoms, which each may be substituted with at most three different or equal R⁵ radicals and wherein one or two carbon and/or sulfur atoms may furthermore carry one or two ═O groups, and G² is NR⁴¹R⁴² and

or a bond, and G³ is hydrogen, a saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring with at most 15 carbon atoms, a saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring with at most 14 carbon atoms and 0 to 5 nitrogen atoms, 0 to 2 oxygen atoms and/or 0 to 2 sulfur atoms, which each may be substituted with at most three different or equal R⁵ radicals and wherein one or two carbon and/or sulfur atoms may furthermore carry one or two ═O groups, and p is 0 or 1, and s is 0 or 1, and q is 0 or 1, and r is 0 or 1, and R⁴¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆-alkyl, wherein every carbon atoms may carry up to two R⁶ radicals, phenyl, which may additionally carry at most two R⁶ radicals, or (CH₂)_(t)-k, and R⁴² is hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, —CO—R⁸, SO₂—R⁸, SO₂NH₂, —(C═N)—R⁸ or —(C═N)—NHR⁸, —═CO₂—R⁸, and R⁴³ is hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl, and t is 1, 2, 3 or 4, and K is NR¹¹R¹², NR¹¹—C₁–C₄-alkyl-phenyl, pyrrolidine, piperidine, 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine, morpholine, homopiperidine, piperazine, which may be substituted with one C₁–C₆-alkyl group, or homopiperazine, which may be substituted with one C₁–C₆-alkyl group, and R⁵ is hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, nitro, CF₃, CN, NR¹¹R¹², NH—CO—R¹³ or O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, COR⁸, C₁–C₄-alkyl-phenyl, phenyl, CO₂—C₁–C₄-alkyl, S—C₁–C₄-alkyl, wherein every carbon atom of the alkyl chains may additionally carry up to two R⁶ radicals and wherein the alkyl chains may furthermore be unsaturated, and R⁶ is hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, nitro CF₃, CN, NR¹¹R¹², NH—CO—R¹³ or O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, and R⁷ is hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, phenyl, where the ring can be additionally substituted by up to two R⁷¹ radicals, or an amine NR¹¹R¹² or cyclic, saturated amine having 3 to 7 members, such as pyrrolidine, piperidine, etc., which may be substituted with one C₁–C₆ alkyl group, and homopiperazine, which may be substituted with one C₁–C₆-alkyl group, wherein groups R¹¹, R¹² and R¹³ in K, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ may have independently the same meaning as R¹ R⁷¹ is OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂, and R⁸ is C₁–C₆-alkyl, CF₃, phenyl or C₁–C₄ alkylphenyl, where the ring can be additionally substituted by up to two R⁸¹ radicals, and R⁸¹ is OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂, and R⁹ is hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, CO₂—C₁–C₄-alkyl, COR⁸, CO₂ C₁–C₄alkyl-phenyl, SO₂-phenyl, C₁–C₄ alkylphenyl or phenyl, where the phenyl rings can be additionally substituted by up to two R⁹¹ radicals, and R⁹¹ is OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂, with the compounds 4-carboxamido-2-(1-ethylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole and 4-carboxamido-2-(1-ethyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-yl)-1H-indole being excluded, and also their tautomeric forms, possible enantiomeric and diastereomeric forms, and their prodrugs.
 2. A compound of the formula I or II as claimed in claim 1, wherein X is O, and R′ is hydrogen, and all the other variables have the above-mentioned meanings.
 3. A compound of the formula I or II as claimed in claim 1, wherein, X is O, and R¹ is hydrogen, and A is phenyl, cyclohexyl, piperidine, pyridine, pyrimidine or pyrazine, which compounds can be additionally substituted by one R⁴ or at most 2 R⁵, and all the other variables have the meanings as given in claim
 1. 4. A compound of the formula I or II as claimed in claim 1, wherein X is O, and R′ is hydrogen, and A is phenyl, cyclohexyl, piperidine, pyridine, pyrimidine or pyrazine, which compounds can be additionally substituted by one R⁴ or at most 2 R⁵, and R⁴ is -Dp-F_(0.1)-G²-G³ with G³ equal hydrogen, wherein, when A is phenyl and p is 1, D is not NR⁴³ and R⁵ is not NR¹¹R¹², and when A is phenyl and p is 0, G² is a bond and R⁵ is not NR¹¹R¹², D is O or NR⁴³, where R⁴³ is hydrogen or C₁–C₃-alkyl, and F is C₂–C₄-alkyl, and G² has the same meaning as given above, and R⁵ has the same meaning as given above.
 5. The compounds of the general formulae I and II for producing drugs for treating neurodegenerative diseases and neuronal damage as in claim 1, with R¹, R², R³ and X having the same meanings as given above and with it being possible for B to be hydrogen or a C₁–C₆ alkyl chain.
 6. The compounds of the formulae I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for treating neurodegenerative diseases and neuronal damage.
 7. The compounds as claimed in claim 6 for treating such neurodegenerative diseases and neuronal damage which are induced by ischemia, trauma or hemorrhages.
 8. The compounds as claimed in claim 6 for treating stroke and craniocerebral trauma.
 9. The compounds as claimed in claim 6 for treating Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.
 10. The compounds of the formulae I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for the treatment or prophylaxis of damage due to ischemias.
 11. The compounds of the formulae I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for treating epilepsies, in particular generalized epileptic attacks, such as petit mal and tonic/clonic attacks and partial epileptic attacks, such as temporal lobe, and complex partial attacks.
 12. The compounds of the formulae I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for the treatment of damage to the kidneys following renal ischemias and for treatment during and after kidney transplants.
 13. The compounds of the formulae I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for treating damage to the heart following cardiac ischemias.
 14. The compounds of the formulae I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for treating microinfractions as, for example, during and after heart valve replacement, aneurysm resections and heart transplants.
 15. The compounds of the formulae I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for treating coronary arteries which are critically stenosed in association with a revascularization, as, for example, in association with PTCA and bypass operations, or critically stenosed peripheral arteries, in particular arteries of the leg.
 16. The compounds of the formulae I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for treating acute myocardial infraction and damage during and after its medicinal or mechanical lysis.
 17. The compounds of the formulae I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for treating tumors and their metastasization.
 18. The compounds of the formulae I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for treating sepsis and septic shock.
 19. The compounds of the formulae I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for treating immunological diseases such as inflammations and rheumatic disorders, for example rheumatoid arthritis.
 20. The compounds of the formula I–II as claimed in claim 1 for producing drugs for treating diabetes mellitus.
 21. A compound of the formula I or II

Where X is S, O or NH, and R′ is hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, CF³, CN, NR¹¹R¹² or NH—CO—R¹³, with R¹¹ and R¹², independently of each other, being hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl, and R¹³ being hydrogen, C₁–C₄-alkyl, C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl or phenyl and R² is hydrogen, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl or phenyl, and R³ is hydrogen, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, C₁–C₄-alkylphenyl, phenyl, COOH, COO—C₁–C₄-alkyl or CONH₂, with it being possible for each carbon atom in the alkyl chains to additionally carry one or two of the following substituents: OH, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, NR¹¹R¹², COOH or COO—C₁–C₄-alkyl, and A is an unsaturated, saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic ring containing from 0 to 5 nitrogen atoms, from 0 to 2 oxygen atoms and/or from 0 to 2 sulfur atoms which can in each case be additionally substituted by an R⁴ radical and at most three R⁵ radicals and one or two carbon atoms and/or sulphur atoms may furthermore carry one or two ═O groups. R⁴ is hydrogen or -(D)p-(E)s-(F¹)q-G¹-(F²)r-G²G³, wherein when A is phenyl and p and s is O, G² is a bond and R⁵ is not NR¹¹R¹², and D is S, NR⁴³ or O, E is phenyl,

—SO₂—, SO₂NH—, —NHCO—, CONH, —NHSO₂—, —NHCOCH₂X₄, and X⁴ is S, O or NH, and F¹ is a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated C₁–C₈-group and F² independent of F¹ may have the same meaning as F¹, and G¹ is a bond or a saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring with at most 15 carbon atoms, a saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring with at most 14 carbon atoms and 0 to 5 nitrogen atoms, 0 to 2 oxygen atoms and/or 0 to 2 sulfur atoms, which each may be substituted with at most three different or equal R⁵ radicals and wherein one or two carbon and/or sulfur atoms may furthermore carry one or two ═O groups, and G² is NR⁴¹R⁴² and

or a bond, and G³ is hydrogen, a saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated monocyclic, bicyclic ortricyclic ring with at most 15 carbon atoms, a saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring with at most 14 carbon atoms and 0 to 5 nitrogen atoms, 0 to 2 oxygen atoms and/or 0 to 2 sulfur atoms, which each may be substituted with at most three different or equal R⁵ radicals and wherein one or two carbon and/or sulfur atoms may furthermore carry one or two ═O groups, and p is 0 or 1, and s is 0 or 1, and q is 0 or 1, and r is 0 or 1, and R⁴¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆-alkyl, wherein every carbon atoms may carry up to two R⁶ radicals, phenyl, which may additionally carry at most two R⁶ radicals, or (CH₂)_(t)-k, and R⁴² is hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, —CO—R⁸, SO₂—R⁸, SO₂NH₂, —(C═N)—R⁸ or —(C═N)—NHR⁸, —═CO₂—R⁸, and R⁴³ is hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl, and t is 1, 2, 3 or 4, and K is NR¹¹R¹², NR¹¹—C₁–C₄-alkyl-phenyl, pyrrolidine, piperidine, 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine, morpholine, homopiperidine, piperazine, which may be substituted with one C₁–C₆-alkyl group, or homopiperazine, which may be substituted with one C₁–C₆-alkyl group, and R⁵ is hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, nitro, CF₃, ON, NR¹¹R¹², NH—CO—R¹³ or O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, COR⁸, C₁–C₄-alkyl-phenyl, phenyl, CO₂—C₁–C₄-alkyl, S—C₁–C₄-alkyl, wherein every carbon atom of the alkyl chains may additionally carry up to two R⁶ radicals and wherein the alkyl chains may furthermore be unsaturated, and R⁶ is hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, branched or unbranched C₁–C₆-alkyl, OH, nitro CF₃, ON, NR¹¹R¹², NH—CO—R¹³ or O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, and R⁷ is hydrogen, C₁C₆-alkyl, phenyl, where the ring can be additionally substituted by up to two R⁷¹ radicals, or an amine NR¹¹R¹² or cyclic, saturated amine having 3 to 7 members, such as pyrrolidine, piperidine, etc., which may be substituted with one C₁–C₆ alkyl group, and homopiperazine, which may be substituted with one C₁–C₆-alkyl group, wherein groups R¹¹, R¹² and R¹³ in K, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ may have independently the same meaning as R¹ R⁷¹ is OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂, and R⁸ is C₁–C₆-alkyl, CF₃, phenyl or C₁–C₄ alkylphenyl, where the ring can be additionally substituted by up to two R⁸¹ radicals, and R⁸¹ is OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂, and R⁹ is hydrogen, C₁–C₆-alkyl, CO₂—C₁–C₄-alkyl, COR⁸, CO₂ C₁–C₄alkyl-phenyl, SO₂-phenyl, C₁–C₄ alkylphenyl or phenyl, where the phenyl rings can be additionally substituted by up to two R⁹¹ radicals, and R⁹¹ is OH, C₁–C₆-alkyl, O—C₁–C₄-alkyl, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, CF₃, nitro or NH₂, with the compounds 4-carboxamido-2-(1-ethylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole and 4-carboxamido-2-(1-ethyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-yl)-1H-indole being excluded, and also their tautomeric forms, possible enantiomeric and diastereomeric forms, and their prodrugs. 